Lower and upper secondary: two separate levels
Lower secondary (secondary I) takes pupils aged about 12 to 15, in Geneva's cycle d'orientation or Vaud's secondary schools. Upper secondary (secondary II) covers gymnasiums and collèges leading to the academic baccalaureate, specialised schools and vocational schools.
Recruitment run by the cantons
Public education is a cantonal matter: Geneva's education department, Vaud's directorate of compulsory education or Valais services publish vacancies and set procedures. Timetables differ, and many appointments are decided in spring for the August start of the school year.
Training at universities of teacher education
In French-speaking Switzerland, HEP Vaud, HEP-BEJUNE, HEP Valais, the University of Fribourg and Geneva's IUFE train secondary teachers. The teaching diploma generally comes on top of a subject bachelor's or master's, depending on the target level.
Getting a teaching qualification from abroad recognised
A teacher trained abroad submits a file to the general secretariat of the CDIP (Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education), which compares length and content of the training. Where gaps exist, the decision sets compensatory measures in ECTS credits, to complete within two years.
Teaching at a vocational school
Vocational schools training CFC and AFP apprentices recruit teachers of general education and technical subjects. The Swiss Federal University for Vocational Education and Training prepares these profiles, often from industry or crafts, for teaching in Switzerland.
Subjects in short supply
Mathematics, physics, computer science and German are among the subjects where several cantons struggle to recruit. In German-speaking Switzerland the shortage also affects lower secondary, opening posts to qualified teachers from French-speaking Switzerland or Germany.
Language of instruction and a second national language
A teacher must fully master the canton's language of instruction: French in Neuchâtel, German in Bern or Zurich, Italian in Ticino. Bilingual cantons such as Fribourg and Valais value teachers able to teach in both languages.
Supply and replacement teaching to get started
Many newcomers start with supply teaching lasting a few weeks or year-long replacements. These assignments, through school management or cantonal lists, let you become known before obtaining a permanent post or a formal appointment.
Salaries set by cantonal pay scales
Pay follows a salary class and annual increments specific to each canton, with marked differences between Geneva, Vaud, Jura or Lucerne. The level taught, the employment rate and qualifications held determine the indicative salary published by the administration.
Primary teachers and adult educators
Some teachers move from primary to lower secondary by completing extra training, as described on our primary teacher in Switzerland page. Others turn to language schools or continuing education, which do not always require a recognised teaching qualification.
Private and international schools
Boarding schools and international schools around Lake Geneva, in Valais or in Zug recruit for the International Baccalaureate or British programmes. They sometimes hire teachers without CDIP recognition, but in English and on their own pay terms.
Working with minors: the special criminal record extract
For any role involving regular contact with minors, Swiss employers ask for the special criminal record extract in addition to the standard one. It is ordered from the Federal Office of Justice with a confirmation from the school.
Your route to secondary teaching in Switzerland
- Choose the level, lower or upper secondary, and the canton, checking the required language of instruction.
- Have a foreign teaching diploma recognised by the CDIP, or complete training at a Swiss university of teacher education.
- Complete any compensatory measures at a higher education institution belonging to the CDIP, within the deadline set.
- Obtain the permit matching your nationality, with the employer's support for non-EU and non-EFTA nationals.
- Apply to cantonal vacancy notices and sign up on the supply teacher lists of your target schools.
- Prepare a Swiss CV with photo, employment references, school referees and the special criminal record extract.
Teacher pay and set-up costs
| Item | Amount or benchmark | What makes it vary |
|---|---|---|
| Secondary teacher salary | Indicative, per the published cantonal scale | Canton, level, increments, employment rate |
| CDIP recognition | Fee set by the CDIP | Type of diploma and file |
| Compensatory measures | Enrolment fees of the institution | Number of ECTS credits required |
| Language courses and certificate | Varies by school and level | DELF, DALF, Goethe, CILS depending on the canton |
| LAMal health insurance | Variable premium | Canton, deductible, insurance model |
The application file schools expect
- Swiss CV with photo and list of subjects taught
- Cover letter addressed to the school management or department
- Subject and teaching diplomas
- CDIP recognition decision for a foreign qualification
- Employment references and inspection reports
- High-level language certificate, for example DALF or Goethe C2
- Standard and special criminal record extracts
- Identity document and residence or cross-border permit
Mistakes that keep the classroom door closed
- Applying for a permanent post without having started CDIP recognition, when the procedure can take several months.
- Underestimating the language level required in a German-speaking canton, where approximate German is not accepted in front of a class.
- Ignoring the cantonal school calendar and applying in July, when most posts for the new school year are already filled.
- Forgetting the special criminal record extract, an essential document for any work involving contact with underage pupils.
- Confusing the Swiss academic baccalaureate with the French baccalauréat in your letter, a sign of unfamiliarity with the Swiss school system.
Secondary school teaching in Switzerland: common questions
Can a teacher certified in France teach in French-speaking Switzerland?
Yes, provided the diploma is examined by the CDIP. Depending on the length and content of the training, recognition is granted directly or combined with compensatory measures to complete at a Swiss higher education institution.
Are teachers civil servants in Switzerland?
Status depends on the canton: some formally appoint their teachers, others hire them on public-law contracts. Job security, pension and salary progression conditions should be checked with the relevant cantonal department.
Can you teach part-time at secondary level?
It is very common. Posts are expressed in weekly lessons or as a percentage, and many teachers combine a part-time post at a gymnasium with another activity, which directly affects salary and pension fund contributions.
Do you need a master's to teach at a gymnasium?
As a rule, yes: teaching at baccalaureate schools requires a master's in the subject, plus a teaching diploma for upper secondary level issued by a university of teacher education or a university.